Check strap bracket for looms



Nov. 29, 1949 L. M. ROGERS CHECK STRAP BRACKET FOR LOOMS Filed April 30, 1948 Allllllll 15 16 I I I fig-4 17 INVENTOR. I 19 BY LEONARD MROGERS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1949 2,489,979 CHECK STRAP BRACKET FOR LOOMS Draper Corporation,

poration of Maine Leonard M. Rogers, Mendon, Mass., assignor to Hopedale, Mass., a cor- Application April 80, 1948, Serial No. 24,120 .6 Claims. (Cl. 139-165) This invention pertains to looms, more specifically, to improvements in check strap mounting brackets for application thereto.

It is an object of the invention to devise a check strap mounting bracket which shall be relatively simple and which shall be effective to prolong the life of check straps of leather or other materials. It is a further object of the invention to devise a check strap mounting bracket which shall be mounted at the lay end of the loom and in a position relatively close to the picker stick, but which shall not present any projecting parts or in any other manner tend to interfere with the picker stick which may move in very close proximity thereto.

A further object of the invention is that of devising a mounting bracket for check straps which shall be conducive to longer life for the straps themselves. More specifically, the bracket is designed with an object in view of eliminating tearing at the edges of the straps thereby to prolong their useful life.

Check straps of leather or other materials, as is well known, do not have a long life and are a source of considerable expense in the production of woven fabric since they are relatively costly and must be replaced at frequent intervals. These straps fail for a number of reasons, but it is well known that they frequently start to tear at the edges and, of course, when an edge becomes torn or frayed, it is only a relatively short time before the entire strap becomes unfit for further use.

The action of conventional check straps is one in which the force applied thereby to the picker stick does not lie along the center line of movement of the stick, but is offset with respect thereto. While resistance in the plane of the stick would be more desirable, if the strap is fixed at one side of the travel of the stick as it must be, the force applied by the stick to the strap and conveyed to the point at which the strap is fixed must tend to pull the stick sidewise to some extent. In reducing the offset to a minimum, longer life of both the stick and the strap and better loom operation have been obtained.

In overcoming the above mentioned shortcom ings of the prior art and in obtaining the objects above enumerated, a check strap bracket has been devised which, although relatively simple and easily manufactured, presents no projecting parts in the pathway of the picker stick and furthermore, is adapted to be mounted in much closer proximity to the plane of travel of the stick than have devices employed for similar purposes as heretofore constructed. In carrying the invenfirst in one direction tion into effect, a bracket has been devised which presents not only a smooth surface with no projecting parts to the passing stick, but also serves more effectively and with no tendency toward damaging the strap itself as that strap is flexed first in the picking movement and thereafter during checking the picker stick. The portion of the bracket to which the strap is attached is of elongated shape and furthermore, has well rounded ends of ample size about which the strap bends, and then in the other. The portion of the bracket about which the strap bends is not only rounded in a direction to accommodate the flexing of the strap, but is also so formed that it recedes from its central portion toward the edges thereof. The result is that the strap when under tension, pulls more evenly and actually exerts its resistance more in the central portion than at the edges thereby preventing or at least eliminating to a great extent any tendency for those edges to become torn.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of as much of the lay end of a conventional loom as is necessary to show the relationship thereto of the check strap, its bracket, and the check strap frictioning means itself.

Fig. 2 is a section taken at line 2--2, Fig. 1, and showing details of the bracket, the strap and the frictioning means.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken at line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing other details of the bracket and the parts adjacent thereto.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the check strap bracket.

Now referring to Fig. 1, a lay end generally indicated by numeral It! is of more or less conventional construction and has functioning therewith and in the usual slot in the lay end, a picker stick II to the top end of which is attached a picker l2 for functioning upon a shuttle (not shown). The shuttle box will not be described in detail since it is of more or less the common construction and comprises a front plate 13 and the usual back plate and binder.

At the lower side of the lay end is attached by any convenient means such as screws or bolts l4 and IS, a check strap bracket indicated generally by numeral I 6 and to which is connected a check strap I1 preferably made of leather, but which may be of any material satisfactory for the purpose.

At the side of the lay end opposite bracket i6 is attached a second bracket I8 from which projects downwardly a plurality of friction members i9, 20, and 2|, some one or more of which may be adjustable in a manner known to those skilled in the art thereby to vary as desired the amount of friction exerted on the strap and ac- 'cordingly,

the checking force of the strap as applied to the picker stick itself. This friction bracket is attached by connecting bolts similar to those employed for bracket [6, but which are not shown in Fig. 2, as they would align with and obscure the connections 14* and I5. friction elements and .2! have been left out of this view for the same reason.

As seen in Figs. mounting pads 22 and 23 and a lateral positioning 2, 3, and 4, the bracket it has The shoulder 24, these serving to locate the bracket" against the lay end or other part of the loom to which it may be affixed. The bolts or screws or other connecting means by which the bracket is attached pass throgh the elongated openings 25 and 261031 which a certain amount of lateral ad ustmentma be obtained. The bracket fur ther includes a second, downwardly projecting portion to which the strap itself is connected. This downwardly projecting portion is preferably formed as shown with a hollow cored interior so that the bracket, While relatively strong, may be of light weight. The material from which the bracket is constructed may be one of the lighter alloys thereby to add very little weight to the reciprocating lay structure the mass of which is desirably to be kept at a minimum.

The inner face designated by numeral 21 and the outer portion 28' of the "depending or downwardly projecting part of the bracket provide, with the coredinter'ior, a space within which the head 29 of a strap attaching bolt 30 may be received after the bolt has been'inserted within the slot 3! provided therefor. The slot 3'! projects upwardly beyond the top edge'of the inner face 21 so that the boltmay' bei'nser'te'd without interference, then slid downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the strap ends are assembled over the boltfand a'washer 32 and nut '33 fixed positionto'clamp the strap ends and rigidly attach them to the bracket itself.

The construction just above described, as may be seen, provides a relatively rigid mounting for the strap attaching bolt, but makes possible the provision of a flat uninterrupted surface at the face 21 which presents no projecting elements for interference with the passing picker stick. The bracket may be'positionedvery'close to the picker stick as shown in Fig. 3, yet there will be no danger from'interference and no possibility of, damage to the stick or other parts.

The ends of the elongated, depending portion of the bracket are rounded in a horizontal plane as shown in Figs. 2-and 4, and in addition thereto, are barrel-shaped, or bulged in such a way that they recede vertically from the center part 34' toward the ends indicated by numerals 35 and 35. This last mentioned feature is common to both ends ofthe depending portion to which the strap is attached and serves as the'stra'p is first drawn taut in one direction and then the other, to stress it more evenly and especially, to make certain or sure that the strap is not stressed at its edges more than at the middle. Thus it may be seen that there is no tendency to tear the strap at its edges as has been the condition heretofore prevailing.

Certain variations or modifications of the device as described will beapparentto those Skilled material or other factors in the art. More than one attaching member or bolt 30 may be employed in which event more slots 3| may be cut or otherwise formed in the bracket. Other attaching means may be used if desired. Screws rather than bolts may be utilized in which event the head of the screw will be at the outermost side of the attached strap members and the screw then threaded into the dependin part of the bracket to which the strap is permanently connected. In that event itmay not be necessary to core out the interior of the depending part of the bracket, although that is desirable from the point of view of lightsuing the structure.

The amount of curvature and of recession for shaping of the ends as above described may be varied in accordance with the width of the strap which enter into the design of the mechanism.

Since the depending portion I6 of the bracket is relatively thin and since it may be positioned very close to the passing picker stick, the pull or force exerted'by the strick on the strap during picking and checking is more directly applied close to the'plane of' travel of the stick than in the devices of the prior art; That causes less strain on the parts since the component in a direction transversely of the stick movement is reduced to a minimum.

The bracket is adapted to be misaligned to an extent without the usual adverse effect on the strap. The receding ends about which the strap bends form a very simple and effective means for assuring maximum life of check straps, yet make it unnecessary to employ other than the conventional non-conical type strap. Due to the closeness of mounting for the parts and smoothness of the bracket faces, there is no deleterious effect evident from'the slight reverse flexing which may be experienced.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but it is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A check strap bracket for attachment to a lay endcomprising a portion by which the bracket is connected to the lay end and aportion depending therefrom to which a check strap is connected, said latter portion having means through which a check strap connecting bolt may be projected for attachment of the check strap ends thereto, and an elongated, smooth and uninterrupted face at the side adjacent the moving picker stick, said face being joined to the part of the bracket to which the strap is connected by curved ends against which the check strap is drawn on picking and checking, said ends being rounded in a vertical direction to recede from a central portion toward the edges thereof.

2. A check strap bracket for attachment to a lay end comprisin a portion by which the bracket is connected to the lay end and a portion extending angularly downwardly therefrom to which a check strap is connected, said latter portion having a slot through which connecting means for the strap is passed and a smooth unbroken face at that side opposite said slot past which a picker stick may move withoutlinterference. and the against which the check strap is drawn on-pickvertical plane to recede in each direction from a central portion toward its edges.

3. A check strap bracket for attachment to a lay end of a loom comprising a portion by which the bracket is connected to the lay end and a portion extending angularly downwardly therefrom to which a check strap is connected, said portion which extends downwardly having a cored central opening bounded by an inner, fiat, uninterrupted part, an outer portion slotted for reception of the check strap attaching means and curved ends, all of which present a smooth uninterrupted exterior to the check strap which may wrap partially about it, the said ends being rounded in a horizontal plane and also vertically to recede from a central portion toward its edges thereby to stress the check strap more evenly and to prevent tearing at the edges thereof.

4. A check strap bracket for attachment to a lay end of a loom comprising a portion by which the bracket is connected to the lay end and a portion to which a check strap is connected, said latter portion having means through which a check strap connecting means may be attached, and strap abutting ends against which the check strap is drawn on picking and checking movements, said ends being rounded in a horizontal plane and also curved vertically to recede from a central portion toward the edges of the strap contacting part of said ends, thereby to stress the strap more evenly and prevent tearing at its edges.

5. A check strap bracket for attachment to a lay end of a loom comprising a portion by which the bracket is connected to the lay end and a portion extending angularly downwardly therefrom to which a check strap is connected, said downwardly extending portion having a cored central opening bounded by the material of the portion, the inner surface adjacent the picker stick being flat and uninterrupted, the material at the strap connecting side of said depending portion having a slot therein for reception of a check strap attaching bolt, said slot extending upwardly beyond the top edge of the material at the inner side of the depending portion thereby to permit introduction of the bolt into the slot after which it may be slid downwardly until the bolt head is confined within the central cored opening, the end of the said downwardly extending, elongated portion of the bracket being rounded in a horizontal plane and also curved vertically to recede from the central part of the strap contacting surfaces toward the edges thereof, thereby to stress the check strap more evenly and to prevent tearing at its edges.

6. A check strap bracket for attachment to a lay end of a loom comprising a portion by which the bracket is connected to the lay end and a downwardly extending, elongated, relatively thin portion to which a check strap is connected, said downwardly extending portion having means attachable thereto for fixing the check strap to the bracket, and extending lengthwise of the lay end to terminate in strap abutting ends against which the check strap is drawn and about which it is flexed on picking and checking movements, said ends being rounded in a horizontal plane and also curved vertically to recede from a central portion of the strap engaging surfaces of the ends toward the edges thereof, thereby to stress the check strap more evenly and to prevent tearing at its edges.

LEONARD M. ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,119,764 Rhoades Dec. 1, 1914 2,239,361 Brown Apr. 22, 1941 2,256,735 Dodge Sept. 23, 1941 

